The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has created a new standard for lab-grown diamonds and gemstones that outlines ethical practices for those in the industry.
The Laboratory Grown Material Standard (LGMS) provides guidelines RJC members must follow when working with synthetics, the council said Tuesday. The rules cover all aspects of responsible practices, including legal compliance, management systems, due diligence, human and labor rights, and working conditions.
“Our mission at RJC is to promote responsible business practices from laboratory or mine to retail,” said RJC chairman Dave Meleski.
Members must document and implement technical requirements that impact every step of the process. The blueprint ensures that companies operate in a responsible and transparent way, but also that they communicate clearly and accurately about their practices and products, the RJC explained. The move is crucial for fostering trust in the marketplace and providing consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions, the organization noted.
Adherence to the new rules will be optional for existing RJC members in the first year after their release. After the initial phase, they will be mandatory for all members dealing in lab-grown materials. The RJC will also provide optional training and educational modules, along with a streamlined auditing process.
“Our mission is to create a trustworthy environment where buyers and sellers can engage with confidence,” said RJC interim executive director John Hall. “By implementing LGMS we aim to ensure only best practices from laboratory to consumer.”
Image: A woman looking at a diamond through a loupe. (Getty Images courtesy RJC)
